The Carolina Panthers made a potentially franchise-altering decision when they took Bryce Young with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Young was a highly touted player in college, but some people expressed concerns that his size would limit him at the NFL level, and that this pick might not work out as well as the Panthers had hoped.
It’s been two seasons so far, and Young’s career has certainly seen some ups and downs.
He’s looked solid at times, but the Panthers have also needed to rely on Andy Dalton at other times when he hasn’t performed well.
Many reports coming out of the Panthers’ camp have indicated Young looks a lot better this year and should have the reins to the starting job, but it’s hard to tell until he faces real in-game competition.
While Young is looking much better, the Panthers still need to have a backup plan in case things go sideways.
Dalton is struggling with an elbow injury at the moment, and as Adam Schefter noted on X, the Panthers wasted no time signing former UFL MVP Bryce Perkins.
With Carolina QB Andy Dalton nursing an elbow injury, the Panthers are signing reigning UFL MVP QB Bryce Perkins. pic.twitter.com/qLEe9BKJ51
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 17, 2025
Perkins will get an opportunity to earn a roster spot with the Panthers, having a chance to compete for the starting role.
Young’s draft position gives him a longer leash than someone who was recently signed, of course, but if he has any problems, Perkins could get his moment in the limelight.
The Panthers have been among the worst teams in the league for a few seasons, and at this point, it seems like they’ll take any drastic measure necessary to get back on track and find ways to win.
